Next substantial iMac upgrade

[Shivetya]

In absolute theory, Apple can put a modern desktop processor into an iMac, and compensate by making it a little fatter.

But that's not going to happen, If apple could they'd have a 2mm thick OLED screen and build all the components inside a tiny hump to connect the stand too

Not another desk wart, please, I will take a beige box first.

 

[63dot]

But I think we may have to be prepared for the possibility of this not happening for another 2 years.

That's terrible and reminiscent of when Apple was stuck at 500 MHz on their Motorola G4 chips in their machines for 18 months. My Power Mac was an early variant of the 500 MHz G4, dual processors at that speed in fact, but for many months after that, 500 MHz was a barrier on any single chip.

If the Mac Pro is at 8 cores right now, new Intel Nehalem micro-architecture and all, the iMac should have 4 cores by next year in some format, don't you think? I would hope all Macs could have at least 4 cores by the end of next year, with the Mac Pro holding at 8 cores, or more through 2010 and beyond.

 

[iMacmatician]

That's terrible and reminiscent of when Apple was stuck at 500 MHz on their Motorola G4 chips in their machines for 18 months. My Power Mac was an early variant of the 500 MHz G4, dual processors at that speed in fact, but for many months after that, 500 MHz was a barrier on any single chip.

Ouch. Also reminds me of the last two PowerBook G4 revisionss staying at 1.5/1.67 GHz. But on the good side, Arrandale should give a healthy speed boost over Penryn.

If the Mac Pro is at 8 cores right now, new Intel Nehalem micro-architecture and all, the iMac should have 4 cores by next year in some format, don't you think?

Absolutely! But given that Apple has conveniently ignored the 3 mobile quad-core models out there (Clarksfield probably will have 3 models too) and gave a speed bump to half the iMac line this update tells me that they might not be very interested in CPU performance. And the cheapest mobile quad-core right now is $348, and the 2.67 GHz dual-core is $3xx, which leads me to think price itself may not be the issue here. Maybe it's single-thread performance, in that case I would hope that Nehalem provides a good boost. So I suppose quad-cores with Clarksfield would be another optimistic prediction.

I would hope all Macs could have at least 4 cores by the end of next year,

My hopes would also be for all Mac lines by then to have at least one model with at least 4 cores. My predictions however…

MacBook Pro: 2011, possibly 2009/2010 since Apple allows lower-clocked quads with higher-clocked duals in the Mac Pro. There will be a Clarksfield cool enough for the MacBook Pro, it's up to Apple to use it.
MacBook: Probably 2011 or later. Even later if the enclosure can only handle 25 W (as opposed to 35 W), since I would think 25 W quad-cores would arrive later than 35 W ones.
Mac mini:

with the Mac Pro holding at 8 cores, or more through 2010 and beyond.

Mac Pro is on target for 6 and 12 cores with Gulftown and Sandy Bridge. Which is good.

 

[meagain]

I need a new iMac like yesterday. I'd be happy if it just had a silver back.

 

[Foxile]

I need a new iMac like yesterday. I'd be happy if it just had a silver back.

Give me a Blu-Ray drive, a better graphics card and an LED screen, then I'd sell a kidney for a 24" model.

 

[shadow1]

It seems strange that Falcoon Northwest can put a the top end core i7 proccessor (3.46 Ghz) in their notebooks while apple uses these slow laptop cpu's just save a few cm's in thickness

 

[Shivetya]

Requirements for me...

LED back lit (which is why I expect a refresh before end of year so Apple can claim across the line LED "environmentally friendly displays")

Matte

Blu-Ray



I would not mind a thicker case if we could get rid of the chin. The depth of the iMac isn't the problem, its its height. So, make it thicker and reduce the overall height of the machine.

Optional but would I would probably buy .. provided it stays under $2500

27" version

Dual discreet video

 

[trip1ex]

It seems strange that Falcoon Northwest can put a the top end core i7 proccessor (3.46 Ghz) in their notebooks while apple uses these slow laptop cpu's just save a few cm's in thickness

A few cms? That's at least an inch. That alot of extra thickness for a laptop.

 

[Hellhammer]

It seems strange that Falcoon Northwest can put a the top end core i7 proccessor (3.46 Ghz) in their notebooks while apple uses these slow laptop cpu's just save a few cm's in thickness

Those laptops have like 8 fans and are 10cm tall... I wouldn't call that a laptop anymore plus Apple ISN'T AN EXTREME COMPUTER MANUFACTURER! None of the big manufacturers make something like that